Refining antipsychotic treatment strategies in schizophrenia: discovery of genetic biomarkers for enhanced drug response prediction.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe mental disorder affecting around 1% of individuals worldwide. The variability in response to antipsychotic drugs (APDs) among SCZ patients presents a significant challenge for clinicians in determining the most effective medication. In this study, we investigated the biological markers and established a predictive model for APD response based on a large-scale genome-wide association study using 3269 Chinese schizophrenia patients.

Enhanced diagnostic accuracy of combined serological and bacteriological tests for brucella infection.

Objective: To analyze the effects and value of combining serological and bacteriological tests in diagnosing Brucella infection.

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients suspected of having Brucella infection admitted to Lishui Second People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were assessed using serological, bacteriological, and combined (serological + bacteriological) tests. The diagnostic performance of each test was compared using previous clinical results as the gold standard.

Pitavastatin ameliorates myocardial injury by inhibiting myocardial inflammation and oxidative stress by modulating the microRNA-106B-5p/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 axis.

Myocarditis (MC) is a myocardial inflammatory disease that threats human life. Pitavastatin (Pit) is a unique lipophilic statin with potent effects on lowering plasma total cholesterol and triacylglycerols. It has been reported to have pleiotropic effects, such as reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Case report: Symmetrical and increased lateral sway-based walking training for patients with corpus callosum infarction: a case series.

Introduction: Corpus callosum injury is a rare type of injury that occurs after a stroke and can cause lower limb dysfunction and a decrease in activities of daily living ability. Furthermore, there are no studies that focus on the progress in rehabilitation of the lower limb dysfunction caused by infarction in the corpus callosum and the effective treatment plans for this condition. We aimed to present a report of two patients with lower limb dysfunction caused by corpus callosum infarction after a stroke and a walking training method.

Cognitive enhancing effect of rTMS combined with tDCS in patients with major depressive disorder: a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is one of the common symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been studied separately in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in MDD patients. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of rTMS combined with tDCS as a new therapy to improve neurocognitive impairment in MDD patients.

Study on the Therapeutic Value of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris of Coronary Heart Disease Complicated with Cognitive Impairment.

Background: There is a pressing need to identify pharmaceuticals that are both safe and efficacious, with lower toxicity, for the treatment of stable angina pectoris in individuals suffering from coronary heart disease. The aim of this paper is to explore the therapeutic value of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills in patients with stable angina pectoris of coronary heart disease complicated with cognitive impairment.

Methods: 200 patients with stable angina pectoris combined with cognitive dysfunction and coronary heart disease admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to June 2023 were retrospectively selected as the study objects.

Survival benefit of surgery for second primary esophageal cancer following gastrointestinal cancer: a population-based study.

Background: The incidence of second primary malignancy is increasing. However, although there is some information on second primary esophageal cancer (SPEC) itself, there is no study or guideline on the use of surgery for SPEC after gastrointestinal cancer (SPEC-GC). Thus, this study aimed to gather evidence for the benefits of surgery by analyzing a national cohort and determining the prognostic factors and clinical treatment decisions for SPEC-GC.

Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy to study effects of virtual reality intervention for adolescents with depression in a clinical setting in China: study protocol for a prospective, randomised, controlled trial.

Introduction: Adolescent depression has been shown to be associated with many devastating psychosocial outcomes. However, there are many barriers that may prevent depressed individuals from receiving specialised treatment. Virtual reality (VR) technology has shown promise as one avenue for overcoming these challenges.

Gender differences in brain region activation during verbal fluency task as detected by fNIRS in patients with depression.

Background: Gender plays a role in the mechanisms of depression, but fewer studies have focused on gender differences in the abnormal activation of brain regions when patients perform specific cognitive tasks.

Methods: A total of 110 major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and 106 healthy controls were recruited. The relative change in oxygen-haemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentration during the verbal fluency task were measured by a 52-channel near-infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) system.

Correlations of high molecular weight adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and vascular endothelial growth factors with occurrence of colonic polyps in the prediabetic population.

We aimed to explore the correlations of high molecular weight adiponectin (HMW-ADP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) with the occurrence of colonic polyps in the prediabetic population. Two hundred patients with prediabetes were enrolled, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into group A (75 patients with colonic polyps) and group B (125 patients without colonic polyps).

Influence of off-hours admission on outcomes of ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of contemporary studies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to document pooled evidence on the association between admission during off-hours and/or weekends and the risk of mortality and poor functional outcome in patients with ischemic stroke, as compared to admission during regular working hours and/or weekdays.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a systematic search using PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases. Observational studies published between 2013 and 2023 that investigated the association between weekend/off-hours admission and outcomes (mortality and functional outcomes) of ischemic stroke were considered for inclusion.

Comparison of outcomes of an 18-gauge vs 16-gauge ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The needle size used in ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy significantly influences the efficacy and safety of the procedure. The aim of this study is to perform a comparative analysis of 16-gauge and 18-gauge needles for ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy. This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials and observational studies that compared the outcomes of using 18-gauge and 16-gauge needles for ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy.

Long-term Impact of Prenatal Famine on Differential DNA Methylation of Genes in the Serotonin Receptor Signalling Pathway in Adults.

The correlation of early life adversity with adulthood psychopathology has already been revealed by epidemiological studies. To find the biological mechanisms underlying the cross-talk between prenatal adversity and mental health, molecular genetic studies have been performed using animal models of prenatal undernutrition and stress, reporting altered expression of serotonin receptors which modulate the release of many neurotransmitters that regulate a broad range of physiological functions including psychopathology. Unfortunately, no such study has been possible on humans due to ethical reasons.

TMS-evoked potential in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to assess the severity of depression disease: a TMS-EEG study.

The combined use of transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG), as a powerful technique that can non-invasively probe the state of the brain, can be used as a method to study neurophysiological markers in the field of psychiatric disorders and discover potential diagnostic predictors. This study used TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) to study the cortical activity of patients with major depressive disorder depression (MDD) and the correlation with clinical symptoms to provide an electrophysiological basis for the clinical diagnosis. A total of 41 patients and 42 healthy controls were recruited to study.

Motor cortical plasticity as a predictor of treatment response to high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for cognitive function in drug-naive patients with major depressive disorder.

Background: There is growing evidence that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve cognitive function in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Few biomarkers are currently available to predict cognitive response in MDD patients. This study aimed to examine whether cortical plasticity played an important role in improving cognitive deficits in MDD patients treated with rTMS.

A comparative study to determine the association of gut microbiome with schizophrenia in Zhejiang, China.

Background: With the rapid progress of high-throughput sequencing technology, characterization of schizophrenia (SZ) with underlying probing of the gut microbiome can explore pathogenic mechanisms, estimate disease risk, and allow customization of therapeutic and prophylactic modalities. In this study, we compared the differences in gut microbial diversity and composition between 50 SZ subjects and 50 healthy matched subjects in Zhejiang, China via targeted next-generation sequencing (16S rRNA amplicon).

Results: Accordingly, the alpha diversity indices (observed species index, Shannon index, and Simpson index) of the gut microbiome in the healthy control group were higher than those in the SZ group.

Improved biopharmaceutical performance of antipsychotic drug using lipid nanoparticles via intraperitoneal route.

This study aims to develop, characterize, and examine olanzapine-loaded solid lipid nanocarriers (OLAN-SLNs) for effective brain delivery. OLAN has poor water solubility and low penetration through blood-brain barrier (BBB). Herein, OLAN-SLNs were fabricated using high-pressure homogenization (HPH) method followed by their investigation for particle properties.

Association between C-reactive protein levels and development of post-stroke depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Different prospective cohort studies have focused on the C-reactive protein (, a pentameric protein) biomarker as a predictor of post-stroke depression. In this review and meta-analysis, we will attempt to synthesize the evidence for the association between C-reactive protein and the development of post-stroke depression.

Methods: We systematically searched five academic databases for relevant studies according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Low VGF is associated with executive dysfunction in patients with major depressive disorder.

Objectives: Executive dysfunction is considered to be one of the cognitive impairment dimensions that are easily observed in depression, but its underlying molecular mechanism is still unclear. Study have shown that the neuropeptide VGF (non-acronymic) plays an important role in the regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. Previous studies have shown that VGF may be related to the psychopathology of depression and cognitive impairment.

miR143-3p-Mediated NRG-1-Dependent Mitochondrial Dysfunction Contributes to Olanzapine Resistance in Refractory Schizophrenia.

Background: Olanzapine is an effective antipsychotic medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS); however, the therapeutic effectiveness of olanzapine has been found to vary in individual patients. It is imperative to unravel its resistance mechanisms and find reliable targets to develop novel precise therapeutic strategies.

Methods: Unbiased RNA sequencing analysis was performed using homogeneous populations of neural stem cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells in 3 olanzapine responder (reduction of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score ≥25%) and 4 nonresponder (reduction of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score <25%) inpatients with TRS.

Association between CpG island DNA methylation in the promoter region of and positive and negative types of schizophrenia.

Objective: To explore the association between CpG island methylation in the promoter region of and positive (type I) and negative (type II) types of schizophrenia, and investigate serum interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and myelin basic protein (MBP) in schizophrenia.

Methods: Levels of CpG island methylation in the promoter region of were detected in peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia (experimental group) and healthy individuals (control group), and serum IL-1β, IL-6, and MBP were measured.

Results: The positive rate of CpG island methylation in the promoter region of was higher in the experimental group than in the control group; however, there were no significant differences between type I and II patients.